Pump



July 29,1941. A. l. cROwDER PUMP Filed- Jne 1, 1,940

Patented July 29, 1941 PUMP Alvin L. Crowder, Gladewater, Tex.

Application `lune 1, 1940,l Serial No. 338,318

(Cl. 10S-187) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pumps,

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pump which is particularly adapted for use in oil wells for lifting the well fluids to the surface, although it may be employed for other purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved pump which is constructed so that the fluids are pumped or lifted upwardly upon both the upstroke and the downstroke of the plunger, whereby a substantially continuous lifting action is produced and also whereby an increased voliune of fluid may be handled without imposing an undue strain or load upon the working parts.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved pump wherein the pump plunger has an upwardly seating valve element at its lower end, which element is mounted so as to permit a partial by-pass of fluid through said plunger during the downstroke, whereby a portion of the fluid below the plunger passes therethrough, with the remainder of said* fluid being forced from the lower end' of the working barrel and. then upwardly through a passage and into the conductor above the plunger; the by-passed iiuid being lifted upon the next successive upstroke of said plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double-acting pump including a flow passage which hwy-passes the working barrel and which communicates with the lower end of said barrel, whereby up'on the downst'roke of the plunger fluid from the' working barrel is forced upwardly through the passage; the passage having 'check valve means at its lower end for preventing downward flow of uid from said passage, whereby the fluid is trapped within the passage during the upstroke of the plunger.

A further object of the invention is to provide Van improved sub for a double-acting pump which is arranged to be connected to the lower end of a working barrel and also to the tubing or fluid conductor within which the barrel is mounted,

said sub having an unrestricted passage establishing communication between the working barrel and the tubing therebelow and also having an additional valve-controlled passage which eX- tends through the sub to permit a flow from the tubing below the sub to the tubing above said sub;`

. the collar.

Figure l is a transverse, vertical, sectionalV View of a double-acting pu`mp,cons tructed in accordance with the invention, and showingfthe position of the valves during the downstroke of the pump plunger, ,Y v

Figure 2 is a similar view, illustrating the posii tion of the valves during the upstroke ofthe plunger, y

Figurer 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line. 4 4 of Figure 1.

In the drawingthe numeral IiI designates a well casing which extends substantially throughout the length of a well bore and which has the well tubing II disposedlaxially therein. Asis well known, the lower .end (not shown) ofthe well casing is 'open so thatthe well fluids Yfrom the producing formation. may enter the casing and rise upwardly therein. In carrying out the present invention, a coupling collar I2 is threadedv onto the lower end of the well tubing II. The collar I2 isadapted to couple the tubing II with an elongate section of pipe or tubing I3, which has its upper end threaded into the. lowerY portionof The central portion of the bore of the collar I2 isreduced and internally screwthreaded to .receive the l`upper end.' of a working barrel A and as is clearly shown in Figures 1. and 2, the working .barrel extends axially throughout the length of the pipe section I3. .Since the working barrel is of a reduced diameter, as compared to the diameter of the pipe section I3, an annular passage I I is formed between the exterior of the barrel and the bore of the section I3. The upper end of the annular. passage I4 communi Cates with the bore of the tubing II through a plurality of vertical ports I5 which are, provided in the collar I2,.and manifestly, a flow of iiud may occur from the passagev I4, through said port and into the tubing II above the Workingr barrel A.

The lower end of .thepipe sectionY I3 isA connected by means of a coupling.V collar Iwith the upper end off a cylindrical sub II. The sub| is formed with an axial recess I8 .in its top-.and this recess is threaded so as to receive the lower end of the working barrel A. The lower end of the cylindrical sub I1 is connected through a collar I9 with a sleeve member 20 which extends downwardly from the sub. The interior of the sleeve member 20 forms a chamber 2| and the bottom of the sleeve 20 is formed with an inwardly directed annular flange 22. The inner periphery of the flange 22 is beveled to form an annular seat 23, on which a standing valve `24 is disposed The standing valve 24 may be suitably secured to the flange 22. An anchor tube 25 has its upper end threaded into the lower end of the standing valve 24 and may rest upon the formation at the bottom of the well bore (not shown). The standing valve 24 includes the usual valve body 26 having a vertical bore 26a extending therethrough with a valve seat 21 at the upper end of said bore. A ball valve 28 is adapted to engage the seat 21 and is confined within the usual cage 29 which is threaded, or otherwise secured on the valve body 26.

With the above arrangement, it will be obvious that the welluid may enter the anchor tube 25 and flow upwardly therethrough and into the bore 26a of the valve body 26. When the ball valve 28 is unseated, the well fluid may enter the chamber 2| which is formed by the sleeve member 20.

For establishing a communication between the chamber 2| and the lower end of the working barrel A, a pair of inclined passages 30 are formed in the sub I1 and extend entirely therethrough. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, each passage extends from the bottom or lower end of the sub and upwardly to the axial recess I8. Obviously, fluid from the chamber 2| may flow upwardly and into the passages 30, from where said fiuid may enter the lower end of the working barrel.

In order to establish a communication between the chamber 2| and the annular passage I4 which is formed within the pipe section I3, the sub is formed with an additional pair of vertically extending passages 3| (Fig. l). These passages extend from the upper end of the sub and downwardly at an incline through said sub. The lower end of each passage communicates with an enlarged chamber 32 within which a ball valve 33 is disposed. Each valve 33 is retained within its respective chamber 32 by means of a nipple or valve seat 34 which is threaded into the lower endV of each chamber 32. It will be obvious that when the ball valves 33 are unseated, a flow of fluid may occur from the chamber 2|, past the valve seat 34 and upwardly through the inclined passages 3| into the annular passage I4. The fluid from the passage I4 may then flow upwardly through the ports I in the coupling collar I2 and into the well tubing I I, as has been explained. With such arrangement, the fluid which flows upwardly through the passages 3| and the annular passage I4 by-passes the working barrel A.

A double acting pump plunger B is reciprocable within the working barrel A and this plunger includes a tubular mandrel 315 which is provided with a valve seat 36 at its upper end and a similar Valve seat 31 at its lower end. A valve 38 is adapted to engage the seat 36 and is confined within a valve cage 39 which is threaded onto the .upper end of the mandrel 35. 'Ihe usual pump rods 4!) are secured to the cage 39 and these rods extend to the surface of the well and are suitably reciprocated to impart a reciprocating movement to the plunger B. A lower valve 4| isadapted to engage the seat 31 and is cononto the lower end of the mandrel 35 of the plunger B. Suitable packing rings 43 surround the mandrel 35 and are confined between the cages 39 and 42. These packing rings engage the bore of the working barrel and provide a seal between the reciprocating plunger 35 and said working barrel in the usual manner.

In the operation of the pump and assuming that fluid is standing in the working barrel and also in the passage I4, and also'assuming that the plunger B is moving downwardly through the working barrel, the parts will be in the position shown in Figure l. In such position, the standing valve 28 will be closed, while the ball valves 33 which control the flow through the passages 3| are unseated. The travelling valve 38 at the upper end of the plunger B is open, while the ball valve 4| at the lower end of said plunger is tending to move toward its closed or seated position. As the plunger B moves downwardly, the fluid in the working barrel below said plunger is contacted by the lower end of the plunger. This fluid will tend to move the ball 4| to its seat 31 but due to a turbulence created within the cage, the valve 4| will not be positively engaged with its seat, particularly through the rst portion of the downstroke. This permits a portion of the uid in the lower end of the working barrel to escape upwardly through the bore of the mandrel 35, past the open ball valve 38 and into the working barrel above the downwardly moving plunger. The fluid which does not pass upwardly through the mandrel 35 is forced downwardly from the lower end of the working barrel A and flows downwardly through the inclined passages 30 and into the chamber 2| above the standing valve 28. Since this standing valve is closed, it is manifest that the fluid ejected from the lower end of the working barrel fined within a valve cage 42 which is threaded 75 is trapped Within the chamber 2| and can only escape therefrom by flowing upwardly through the inclined passages 3| in the sub I1.

The fluid from the chamber 2| will unseat the valves 33 and will flow upwardly through the ports 3| and into the annular by-pass chamber I4 which is formed between the working barrel A and the pipe section I3. 'I'his fluid moves upwardly through the annular chamber or passage I4 and-is then directed through the ports I5 in the coupling collar I2 and into the tubing II above the working barrel.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that upon the initial downward movement of the plunger B, the valve 4| is slow in seating and therefore, a portion of the fluid which is in the lower end of the working barrel is permitted to by-pass through the tubular mandrel of the plunger B and escape into the working barrel above said plunger. 'I'he remainder of the fluid in the lower end of the working barrel is forced outwardly through the inclined passages 30 in the sub I1 and into the chamber 2|, from where it escapes upwardly through the inclined ports 3|, annular passage I4 into the tubing. It is noted that the valve 4| may completely seat to shut off all flow as the pressure below the plunger builds up and toward the latter part of the downstroke. However, under certain conditions. the valve 4| may never find a tight engagement with the seat 31, with the result that there will be a by-pass of a small portion of the fluid from below the plunger, as said plunger moves through its downstroke.

When the plunger B completes its downstroke, a lifting of the fluid through the passage I4 is halted. Upon the initial upward movement of the plunger Within the working barrel, a suction is created in the chamber 2| and this suction serves to pull the ball valves 33 downwardly onto their seats 34 to close the passages 3| and shut olf communication between the chamber 2| and the annular passage I4. The seating of the ball valves 33 prevents the escape of any fluid within the annular passagev I4 downwardly into the chamber 2|. The suction created in the lchamber 2| also serves to unseat the ball 28 of the standing valve, whereby well fluids may enter the chamber and flow upwardly through the inclined passages 30 into the lower end of the working barrel. During the upward movement of the plunger B, the valve 38 is seated by the weight of the fluid column thereabove, while the lower valve 4I of said plunger is unseated, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Therefore, as the plunger moves upwardly, it serves to lift the iluid above said plunger within the working barrel A and also within the tubing II above said barrel. At the same time, well fluids are drawn into the lower end of the working barrel and during the upstroke operates in the same manner as ordinary pump plungers now in general use.

As the upstroke is completed and the downstroke begins, the valve 38 at the upper end of Y the plunger is unsea-ted, as has been explained. The valve 4| at the lower end of the plunger tends to move onto its seat 3'I but due to the turbulence created and also to the fact that the pressure below the plunger is rather slight, said lower valve is not immediately seated, whereby some of the nuid below the plunger by-pa-sses through the tubular mandrel 35 to the working barrel above said plunger. At the same time, the downward movement of the plunger ejects fluid from the lower end of the working barrel into the chamber 2 I, whereby the standing valve 28 is seated and the ball valves 33 which control the flow through the passages 3|, are raised. Further downward movement of the plunger B to complete the downstroke, results in a lifting of the fluid through the annular passage or chamber I4, as has been explained.

From the above, it will be seen that a double acting pump is provided. Fluid is lifted on the upstroke and is also lifted upon fthe downstroke. In this manner, the plunger is not subjected to a great load upon either stroke, with the result that it may move a larger or increased amount of fluid without placing an undue strain thereon. By utilizing both the upstroke and the downstroke for lifting purposes, it is possible to employ a larger standing valve and a Vlarger fluid inlet, whereby a greater Volume of fluid may be handled by the pump, as compared to a plunger which lifts the fluid only on the upstroke. The arrangement is su'ch that an ordina-ry pump plunger may be readily converted into the double-acting type, asidisclosed herein, by merely adding the valve 4I to the lower end of the plunger and by using the sub I'I, together with the pipe section I3 in conjunction with the usual well tubing II.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pumping apparatus including, a liluid conductor, a working barrel communicating with the conductor, a valve controlled well uid inlet communicating with the lower end of the working barrel for admitting well fluid into the working barrel, by-pass means concentric to and surrounding said working barrel extending from the lower end of the working barrel to the uiid conductor to provide an annular fluid b-y-pass around the working barrel, valve means associated with the bly-pass means, and a double-acting tubular` plunger having oppositely-opening closure means at each end thereof for controlling the ilow therethrough, the plunger being reciprocable within the working barrel for lifting the well fluid upwardly through the Working barrel on its upstroke and for lifting the fluid upwardly through the by-pass means on its downstroke.

2. A pumping apparatus including, a fluid conductor, a working barrel communicating with the conductor, ia valve lcontrolled well fluid inlet communicating with the lower end of the working barrel for admitting well fluid intoy the working barrel, b-y-pass means extending from the lower end of the working barrel to the fluid conductor to permit a by-pass o-f fluid around the working barrel, valve means associated with the by-pass means, a plunger reciproc'able Withiin the working barrel and having a passage eX- ten-ding therethrough, and acheck valve at Veach end of said plunger for controlling fthe flow ofv fluid through its passage, said check valves coacting with each other to permit the plunger to lift the well fluid alternately through the working barrel and by-pass means upon the upstroke and downstroke of said plunger.

3. A pumping apparatus including, a fluid conductor, a working barrel communicating with the conductor, a valve controlled well fluid inlet communicating with the lower enld of the working barrel for admitting well fluid into the.

working barrel, b-y-pass means concentric to and surrounding said working barrel extending from the lower end` of the working barrel to the fluid conductor to provide an annular fluid by-pass around the working barrel, valve means associated with the by-pass means, check valve means in the by-pass means for permitting a flow from the barrel to .the by-passwhile preventing a reverse flow from said by-pass to said barrel, and a double-acting tubular plunger having oppositely-opening closure means at each end thereof for controlling the flow therethrough, the plunger being re'ciprocable within the working barrel for lifting the well iluid through the working barrel on the upstroke and for lifting the iluid through the by-pass on the downstroke.

4, A pumping apparatus including, a fluid conductor, a working barrel communicating with the conductor, a valve controlled well fluid inlet communicating with the lower end of the working barrel for admitting well fluid into the working barrel, by-pass means concentric to and surrounding said working barrel extending from the lower end of the working barrel to the fluid conductor` to provide an annular fluid by-pass around the working barrel, valve means associated with the by-pass means, check valve means in the by-pass means for permitting a flow from' the barrel to the by-pass while preventing a reverse flow from said by-pass to said barrel, and a double-acting tubular plunger' having oppositely-opening lclosure means, at each endA thereof for controlling the flow therethrough,

the plunger being reciprocable within the workingbarrel for lifting the well fluid through the working barrel on the upstroke and for lifting the fluid through the by-pass on the downstroke, the check valve means being located adjacent the lower end of the working barrel so as to be subjected to the alternate suc-tion and pressure produced by the reciprocation of the plunger, whereby said check valve means is opened and closed by the action of the plunger.

5. A pumping apparatus including, a fluid conductor, a working barrel communicating with the conductor, a valve controlled well uid inlet communicating with the lower end of the working barrel for admitting well fluid into the working barrel, by-pass means extending from the lower end of the workingbarrel to the fluid conductor to permit a by-pass of fluid around Ithe working barrel, valve means associated with the by-pass means, check valve means inthe by-pass means for permitting a flow from said by-pass to said barrel, a tubular plunger Areciprocable within the working barrel, and a check valve at each end of said plunger for controlling the ow of fluid through its passage, said check Valves co-aclting with each other to permit the plunger to lift the well fluids alternately through the working barrel and by-pass means upon the upstroke and downstroke of said plunger.

6. A pumping apparatus for a well including, a well tubing, a working barrel connected to the well tubing with its upper end communicating therewith, a sub connected to the lower end of the working barrel and having a bore communieating therewith, a fluid conductor extending from the sub to the producing area of the well, whereby well fluids may flow through the bore of the sub to the lower end of the working blarrel, a standing valve mounted in the fluid conductor, a concentric icy-pass line surrounding the working barrel and having its lower end communicating with the fluid conductor through the sub and its upper end communicating with the well tubing, to provide an annular by-pass around the working barrel, check valve means in said by-pass line, and a hollow pump plunger having oppositely-opening closure means at each end thereof for controlling the iiow therethrough, the plunger being reciprocable within the working barrel for lifting the well fluids upwardly through the working barrel on its upstroke and for lifting the fluid upwardly `through the by-pass on its downstroke.

'7. A pumping apparatus for a well including, a well tubing, a working barrel yconnected to the well tubing with its upper end communicating therewith, a sub connected to the lower end of the working barrel and having a bore communieating therewith, a fluid conductor extending from the sub to the producing area of the well, whereby well fluids may flow through the bore of the sub to the lower end of the working barrel, a standing valve mounted in the fluid conductor, a by-pass line having its lower end communicating with the fluid conductor through the sub and its upper end communicating with the Well tubing, check valve means in said bypass line, a hollow plunger recipro'cable within the working barrel, and a check. Valve at each end of said plunger for controlling the flow of fluid through its passage, said check valves coacting with each other to permit the plunger to lift the well fluids alternately through the working barrel and by-pass line upon the upstroke and downstroke of said plunger.

8. A pumping apparatus'for a well including,

a well tubing, a working barrel connected to the well tubing with its upper end communicating therewith, a sub connected to the lower end of the working barrel and having a bore communicating therewith, `a fluid conductor extending from the sub to the producing area of the well, whereby well fluids may flow through the bore of the sub to the lower end of the working barrel, a standing valve mounted in the fluid conductor, a concentric by-pass pipe surrounding fthe working barrel and having its upper end connected to and communicating with the well tubing with its lower end connected to the sub, to provide an annular by-pass around the working barrel, said sub having a passage therein establishing a communication between 'the lower end of the by-pass pipe and the fluid conductor, check valve means in said passage permitting a flow from the conductor to the by-pass while preventing a reverse flow from the by-pass to the conductor, and a tubular pump plunger having oppositely-opening closure means at each end thereof for controlling the flow therethrough, the plunger being reciprocable within the working barrel for lifting the well fluid upwardly in the working barrel upon its upstroke and upwardly in the by-pass pipe upon its downstroke. g

9. A pumping apparatus for a well including, a well tubing, a working barrel connected to the well tubing with its upper end communicating therewith, a sub connected to the lower end of the working barrel and having a bore communieating therewith, a uid conductor extending from the sub to the producing area of the well,

whereby well fluids may flow through the bore' of the sub to the lower end of the working barrel, a standing valve mounted in the uid conductor, a by-pass pipe surrounding the working barrel and having its upper end connected to and communicating with the well tubing with its lower end connected to the sub, said sub having a passage therein establishing a communication between the lower end of the bypass pipe and the uid conductor, check valve means in said passage permitting a ow from the conductor to the by-pass while preventing a reverse flow from the by-pass to the conductor, a tubular plunger reciprocable within the working barrel, and a lcheck valve at each end of said plunger, said check valves controlling fthe cw of fluid through the plunger and coacting with each other to permit the plunger to lift the well fluids alternately through the working barrel and by-pass pipe upon the upstroke and downstroke of said plunger. Y Y

10. A pumping apparatus for a well including, a well tubing, a working barrel connected to the well tubing with its upper end communicating therewith, a sub `connected to the lower end of the working barrel and having a bore communieating therewith, a fluid conductor extending from the sub to fthe producing area of the well, whereby well fluid may flow through the bore of the sub to the lower end of the working barrel, a standing valve mounted in the fluid conductor, a by-pass pipe surrounding the working barrel and having its upper end `connected to and communicating with the well tubing with its lower end connected to the sub, said sub having a passage therein establishing a communication between the lower end of the bypass pipe and the duid conductor, check valve means in said passage permitting a flow from the conductor to the by-pass while preventing stroke iluid is forced from the lower end of the working barrel into the uid conductor :and then upwardly through the by-pass pipe into the tubing.

11. As a sub-combination in a well pump, a replaceable pump plunger including, an elongated imperforate tubular member Vopen at ealch end and having a valve seat at each end, and a valve cage on each end ofthe member having a valve ball therein co-'acting with the adjacent seat, said valve balls opening in opposite directions and outwardly of said member.

12. As a sub-combination in a well pump, a replaceable pump plunger including, an elongate tubular member having oppositely facing valve seats at its ends,vvalve cages on the ends of the member, valve balls inthe cages co-acting with the seats, the valve ball in one cage opening in an opposite direction to the Valve ball in other cage, said valve balls opening outwardly of said member, and packing on the member between the valve cages, the passage of fluid through member being solely through the valve seats.

13. As a sub-'combination in a Well pump, a replaceable pump plunger including, an elongate imperforate tubular mandrel having. oplpositely facing valve seats at its ends, valve cages re'- movably mounted on the ends of the mandrel, each cage having a valve ball therein co-acting with the adjacent valve seat, said valve balls opening in opposite directions and outwardly of said mandrel.

ALVIN L. CROWDER. 

